Eagles Film Analysis: Depressing defense takeaways from the loss to the Falcons

Buckle up, Eagles followers. This isn’t a constructive article. Sorry. The Eagles ‘solely’ gave up 22 factors to the Atlanta Falcons, however I believed the protection was fairly pathetic all sport lengthy. Let’s get into why.

Protection

In last week’s article, I spoke at size in regards to the Eagles’ unhealthy run matches. I hate being damaging, particularly with a brand new defensive coordinator, however the warning indicators have been evident final week. The movie in opposition to the run this week is brutal. It was the identical factor again and again. The Falcons repeatedly ran outdoors zone, from below middle, had a receiver coming throughout the formation in movement, and left the Eagles’ weakside EDGE defender alone. The Eagles repeatedly performed a 4-man entrance with solely 6 within the field, leading to a 6v5 in favor of the offense. The Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom went after Zack Baun and was capable of reduce him repeatedly. The Eagles continued to slant a defensive deal with (have a look at Milton Williams right here), which hardly ever labored. I’m not kidding; I noticed this similar play repeatedly. It was extremely irritating.

I believed the Eagles have been superb in cross protection (aside from the final drive), however they received away with one earlier. I felt sorry for Reed Blankenship as a result of he was repeatedly coming downhill from a really deep place, which meant he was all the time weak to play-action. That is simply soccer 101. Run the ball effectively after which throw a shot from play-action. The Eagles have been fortunate this wasn’t a 70-yard landing. I do know lots of you’ll remark in regards to the lack of a cross rush, and I’ll get into it, however I blame the Eagles’ EDGE defenders greater than the inside cross rushers. Jalen Carter didn’t have sport in opposition to Chris Lindstrom, however he was doubled just a few instances, and the Falcons have been prepared to depart a good finish on Nolan Smith and Bryce Huff. Smith is blocked by a good finish right here, permitting the Falcons to make use of a guard and deal with on Carter. This isn’t signal.

Oh, look, it’s the identical play as earlier. Hear, the gamers deserve blame. Milton Williams was blown up by double groups just a few instances. Moro Ojomo struggled in opposition to double groups. They didn’t play effectively in opposition to the Falcons’ outsize zone run scheme. However they weren’t helped by their coach. The Eagles refused to play 5-man fronts with Jordan Davis as a nostril deal with. 5-man fronts could be excellent in opposition to outdoors zone as they provide gamers one-on-one matchups and forestall the offensive line from attending to the second stage. For those who stick Jordan Davis at nostril, you make it a hell of so much tougher for Lindstrom to get to the 2nd stage and take out Baun as he does right here, once more. However the Eagles didn’t alter and continued to run these 4-man fronts out. I do know taking part in a 5-man entrance may give you points in cross protection since you lose a defender, however I don’t care. Nothing else issues to me when you can’t cease the run on early downs. I feel your complete defensive position is best suited to a 5-man entrance, too, as gamers like Milton Williams and Moro Ojomo are higher suited as a 4i method (consider the two defensive tackles subsequent to Jordan Davis) quite than a 3 method as you’ll be able to see above.

One other stunt, simply what I wanted to see when watching the movie. This time, Josh Sweat decides to leap inside (which I assume he’s being instructed to do as a result of it’s not the one time we’ve seen EDGE defenders do that) however no person is ready to get on the market to set the sting so it ends in the most important gap you’ll ever see. It’s the identical play again and again. Beneath middle outdoors zone. The Eagles appeared like they’d by no means seen anybody run it earlier than. I perceive Fangio runs a sophisticated scheme, and I anticipate to see some issues within the early a part of the season, however that is simply fundamental stuff. It’s essential at the very least compete in these conditions. It was persistently really easy for the Falcons.

I had fully misplaced my head by this level of watching the movie. I all the time search for the positives and perceive the coach’s viewpoint, however I want somebody to elucidate why the Eagles are persevering with to slant their defensive tackles. This time, the Falcons cleverly use movement to the identical aspect they’re operating to, so I’m guessing Carter is instructed to slant to the suitable, anticipating the run to go the opposite approach. Baun had a unbelievable week final week, however he wasn’t aggressive sufficient in these conditions for me. Nakobe Dean seems to be operating to set the sting, however Darius Slay can be blitzing the sting, so I assume that’s one other mistake as by somebody. Lastly, there was quite a lot of speak about Bryce Huff’s and Nolan Smith’s incapability to hurry the quarterback. That is true. However because it stands, I’m taking part in Nolan Smith on each single early down and never letting Huff see the sphere till an apparent passing state of affairs. Smith is an effective run defender. Huff was borderline unplayable on early downs on this sport.

The Eagles have been compelled to make use of a 5-man entrance on the purpose line or in short-yardage conditions, they usually had some success! It leaves Nakobe Dean free as a result of the offensive lineman can’t rapidly get to the 2nd stage and permits the defensive tackles to have one-on-one matchups. This has been an extremely miserable learn to date, so let me concentrate on a constructive. Thomas Booker IV was glorious. He didn’t play quite a lot of snaps, however he was legitimately good. He performed the run effectively, moved effectively, and appeared stout. He deserves extra snaps subsequent week. Take a look at him get after Lindstrom right here! This was not the one time he appeared this good both. I used to be impressed.

Right here’s one other clip the place Jalen Carter is getting doubled by a guard and a deal with whereas the Falcons block the Eagles’ EDGE defender (Bryce Huff this time) with a good finish. You’ll be able to’t win like this. Carter didn’t play effectively, and I’ve been upset by his begin to the season, however you’ll be able to’t put the dearth of a cross rush on him. The EDGE defenders have to step up. If Huff can’t rush the quarterback, what can he do? Is he wholesome? Is there one thing occurring with him off the sphere? This isn’t the identical participant I watched within the low season.

Within the phrases of Albert Einstein (apparently), ‘Madness is doing the identical factor again and again and anticipating completely different outcomes.’ Sure, the Eagles combined it up a little bit bit occasionally. Nevertheless it wasn’t radically completely different. Simply play a 5-man entrance! It can not worsen. I feel, in hindsight, this isn’t Bryce Huff’s fault if he’s being coached to leap inside, however I nonetheless preserve that Nolan Smith is a dramatically higher run defender.

One other constructive play! Milton Williams didn’t have sport, however he did present what he may do right here. I believed the Eagles’ cross protection within the pink zone was glorious. Philosophically, I hate the ‘bend however don’t break’ strategy of giving up straightforward dashing yardage and being stout within the pink zone. To offer Fangio credit score, up till the ultimate drive, the Eagles have been good within the pink zone. Nevertheless, I actually battle with this philosophy once we see what occurs later…

Thomas Booker! Take a look at how a lot better he strikes laterally than Jordan Davis in opposition to outdoors zone. Additionally, take a look at Nolan Smith setting the sting however nonetheless getting off his block. Jordan Davis was not the Eagles’ drawback on this sport. However he was not an answer both. For those who play him as a part of a 4-man entrance, he’ll battle to maneuver laterally in opposition to an outdoor zone run sport. I don’t assume it’s a scorching take to say that Booker ought to take snaps off him this week in opposition to the Saints, who run quite a lot of outdoors zone (if Fangio sticks to his 4-man fronts).

I anticipated Fangio to do much more of this. Taking part in a five-man entrance doesn’t imply it’s a must to sacrifice a linebacker as a result of you’ll be able to simply use Baun as an EDGE defender! We noticed this final week, and it labored. The Eagles transfer Baun up right here and push Graham inside, which creates a five-man entrance and leaves Carter one-on-one. He wrecks the guard and forces the incompletion. I don’t perceive why we didn’t see this extra.

Proper, right here is my large drawback with this play. I don’t thoughts defensive coordinators being aggressive. I want Fangio was extra assertive on this sport. However, if you’ll play a lightbox the entire time and quit lengthy runs steadily, don’t run a Cowl 0 blitz! If you’re going for a bend however don’t break strategy, then decide to it. Don’t play passive all sport after which instantly hand over a 40-yard landing due to a Cowl 0 blitz. Regardless of being killed by the run all sport, the Eagles hadn’t given up many factors. You might argue their strategy was working. However this play is strictly what you’ll be able to’t do if you’ll play a passive model. You’ll be able to’t hand over large performs like this. This is not a fantastic play by C. J. Gardner-Johnson, nevertheless it’s additionally a troublesome cowl. You anticipate a brief throw whenever you ship a Cowl 0 blitz and never a deep route like this one. Credit score the Falcons for being aggressive.

This play ought to have gained the Eagles the sport. It is a ridiculous play, contemplating CJGJ shouldn’t be a bodily run defender. It doesn’t get a lot better than this in run protection, and it deserved to provide the Eagles the victory. I’m gutted that we aren’t celebrating this play extra.

OK, it’s time for the final drive. This was brutal. I’ve an excessive amount of to say on this. Firstly, the Eagles began the drive with a entrance 4 of Huff-Ojomo-Carter-Sweat. I like Ojomo, however is he your reply at defensive deal with in a pass-rushing state of affairs? He performed the WHOLE drive! Why not Brandon Graham at DT? The Eagles received no strain regardless of having 2 minutes to pin their ears again and go after an motionless quarterback with out worrying about run protection. That is the dream state of affairs for a defensive position. And so they received no strain in any respect. Kirk Cousins had a median time to throw of two.96 seconds, and nobody received shut.

Then we get onto the protection. The Eagles name what I feel is Cowl 6 right here (Quarter-Quarter-Half), which suggests Blankenship is the one deep defender in a single half of the sphere. I assume that as a result of it’s the final drive, Quinyon Mitchell is meant to hold the receiver vertically and assist out his security. However I can’t make certain. The Eagles find yourself with 3 defensive backs excessive of 1 broad receiver, and nobody is near him.

I do know it’s not as straightforward as Madden, however why can’t you simply run Cowl 2 man? Kirk Cousins can’t run. Why not run quarters/Cowl 4 with 4 deep defenders? I don’t perceive how straightforward the Eagles’ protection made this for the Falcons. This wasn’t an unbelievable drive with Cousins making ridiculous throws and the receivers making ridiculous contested catches. This was straightforward.

After all, the Eagles’ greatest and most skilled cornerback has an terrible rep with the sport on the road. By this level, it felt just like the Eagles have been simply damaged. It felt like a query of when the Falcons would rating quite than if they’d rating. Ugh.

My goodness, that was a miserable article. Apologies, however I needed to get some issues off my chest. The offensive model is much more constructive!

Thanks for studying! I’d love to listen to your ideas, so be at liberty to remark under and ask any questions. For those who loved this piece, you’ll find extra of my work and podcast here.